Jon Popham
October 13, 2008 | 1:01 pm EST
According to the Wall Street Journal, President-elect Obama has chosen some key members of his energy and environmental teams, which will hopefully lead the county towards green energy independence and economic stability. Quite a tall order; let’s meet them!
Democratic officials have said the nomination of Energy Secretary will go to Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu, currently the director of the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It’s encouraging to read that Chu has been a long time advocate for finding scientific solutions to climate change and is dedicated to renewable energy research, including nanoscience and carbon-neutral sources.
Next on the roster is Carol Browner, a former (and longest serving) EPA administrator under Clinton, who as the energy “czar” will will oversee energy, climate and environmental issues. Currently a principal at The Albright Group, Browner is known for understanding the connections between protecting the environment and the economy. Hopefully she will help make the transition to a Green Collar Economy.
And finally, Nancy Sutley
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Princeton University Professor and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has won the Nobel Prize in Economics. Krugman was awarded the honor for his work on international trade and economic geography, particularly his “having shown the effects of economies of scale on trade patterns and on the location of economic activity.” according to the prize committee. Krugman’s theories have sought out to explain why global trade in a globalized world is still dominated by a relatively small handful of countries.
I’ve read Krugman’s Times column for years and have long admired his valiant efforts at trying to make sense of complex economic issues for ordinary readers. So it’s nice to see someone rewarded for something that is by no means easy, and is more or less unique in the mainstream press of this country. Plus this award isn’t just about bragging rights and recognition. It also comes with more than a little economic stimulus of its own for Mr. Krugman in the form of a $1.4 Million cash award.
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New drugs and treatments for aging and the illnesses associated with it are right around the corner. “The general public has no idea what’s coming,” Harvard Medical School professor David Sinclair is quoted as saying in an article in the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, “It’s not an if, but a when.”
Sinclair’s comments were part of a discussion forum on aging and longevity that closed out the recent World Science Festival at New York University, a gathering of Nobel laureate scientists from all disciplines, business leaders and philosophers.
One of the most promising substances currently in clinical trial to promote longevity is resveratrol, a substance found in red wine (and often rumored to give the French and Italians that certain joie de vivre along with remarkably good looks in old age). Resveratrol has been very successful in extending the life of laboratory mice.
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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out our most popular articles of the week on a variety of subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.
Katie:
Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan Surfaces 120 Years Later
Hallelujah For American Idol, Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen
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Nicole:
Google Gives Free Voicemail to San Francisco Homeless
Gabriel Garcia Marquez Turnes 80
Patrick Swayze’s Cancer Battle
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Gina:
“Chop Shop” - Dreams In a Place of Despair
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Kerry:
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Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez, renowned Latin American author, Nobel Prize laureate, and master of literary magical realism, turned 80 years old yesterday. Born in Colombia in 1928, GarcÃa Márquez first won international acclaim with his book, One Hundred Years of Solitude, a defining classic work of twentieth century literature. GarcÃa Márquez is no stranger to controversy, inspired by the choice to incorporate strong political themes into his novels. He has used his literary noteriety and personal funds to champion a variety of revolutionary political and social causes in Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Angola, and Argentina. He also helped to found HABEAS, an organization seeking to correct the abuses of Latin American dictatorships and to free the political prisoners of these regimes.
Giulia:
